New Delhi: A national citizen action group led by mothers has written to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and their respective state pollution boards, highlighting the issue of the production and supply of banned single-use plastics. The letter by ‘Warrior Moms’ mentions that despite the ban that was imposed on July 1, 2022, single-use plastics (SUP) continue to be available in the market and pose a threat to the environment and the health of citizens, particularly children.
Warrior Moms are joining forces nationwide to demand action against banned single-use plastics. They sent letters to @CPCB_OFFICIAL & state pollution boards, urging them to address the alarming production & supply of these plastics despite the ban since July 2022;
Join them???? https://t.co/80WbimvBB4
— Warrior Moms (@Warriormomsin) July 4, 2023
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Emphasising the impact of single-use plastics on the environment, the group said these non-biodegradable materials persist in ecosystems, clog drains, pollute water bodies, and contribute to mounting landfills.
The letter read,
Scientific studies have also established the link between plastic pollution and health risks, including respiratory problems, endocrine disruption, and even carcinogenic effects. The recent finding of microplastics in breast milk has raised concerns among mothers.
Urging the CPCB to take necessary measures, the group said surveillance and monitoring efforts should be increased to identify manufacturers, suppliers, and distributors involved in the production and sale of banned single-use plastics.
The letter read,
Strict penalties and fines should be implemented to deter non-compliance. Relevant authorities, such as local police departments and state pollution control boards must forge partnerships, to ensure coordinated efforts in cracking down on the production and supply chains.
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They further said comprehensive awareness campaigns should be launched to educate the public about the effects of single-use plastics and promote sustainable alternatives.
The said,
Resources should be allocated towards research and development of viable alternatives to single-use plastics, fostering innovation in the field of eco-friendly materials and packaging.
The group further suggested investment in the development and expansion of recycling facilities and waste management systems.
“We believe that by implementing these proactive measures, the CPCB can demonstrate its commitment to safeguarding the environment and protecting the health and well-being of citizens,” they said in the letter.
The Delhi-based group of Warrior Moms is also collecting banned single-use plastics from various cities across the country and will be delivering them to the CPCB. The group said,
This action aims to highlight the urgency of the situation and emphasise the need for immediate intervention to curb the production of banned single-use plastics.
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(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
NDTV – Dettol have been working towards a clean and healthy India since 2014 via the Banega Swachh India initiative, which is helmed by Campaign Ambassador Amitabh Bachchan. The campaign aims to highlight the inter-dependency of humans and the environment, and of humans on one another with the focus on One Health, One Planet, One Future – Leaving No One Behind. It stresses on the need to take care of, and consider, everyone’s health in India – especially vulnerable communities – the LGBTQ population, indigenous people, India’s different tribes, ethnic and linguistic minorities, people with disabilities, migrants, geographically remote populations, gender and sexual minorities. In wake of the current COVID-19 pandemic, the need for WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) is reaffirmed as handwashing is one of the ways to prevent Coronavirus infection and other diseases. The campaign will continue to raise awareness on the same along with focussing on the importance of nutrition and healthcare for women and children, fight malnutrition, mental wellbeing, self care, science and health, adolescent health & gender awareness. Along with the health of people, the campaign has realised the need to also take care of the health of the eco-system. Our environment is fragile due to human activity, which is not only over-exploiting available resources, but also generating immense pollution as a result of using and extracting those resources. The imbalance has also led to immense biodiversity loss that has caused one of the biggest threats to human survival – climate change. It has now been described as a “code red for humanity.” The campaign will continue to cover issues like air pollution, waste management, plastic ban, manual scavenging and sanitation workers and menstrual hygiene. Banega Swasth India will also be taking forward the dream of Swasth Bharat, the campaign feels that only a Swachh or clean India where toilets are used and open defecation free (ODF)status achieved as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014, can eradicate diseases like diahorrea and the country can become a Swasth or healthy India.
